As Egypt is working to broker a ceasefire between
Hamas and Israel in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, Israeli security cabinet
Wednesday said Gaza crossings will not fully open unless Hamas releases Shalit
who was captured by Hamas-led militants in 2006.

"The Israeli decision is a stab in the back to the
Egyptian efforts," said Ismail Radwan, a spokesman for Hamas.

Hamas wants a full ceasefire that secures the lifting
of the Israeli closure on the Gaza Strip imposed since Hamas drove out security
forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and seized the security and
governmental installations there in 2007.

"Israel can not extort us by these decisions and we
stick to our right in defending ourselves. We are not in a hurry for a lull with
Israeli standards," Radwan added.

JERUSALEM, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Israel will not accept
a ceasefire in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip before kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad
Shalit is released, Israeli security cabinet decided unanimously Wednesday after
discussing the issue for more than four hours.

"It would be inconceivable" for Israel to accept an
Egyptian-proposed ceasefire calling for reopening Gaza border crossings to
more-than-limited humanitarian aid without Shalit's release, local daily
Ha'aretz quoted Israeli Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit as saying. Full story

JERUSALEM, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Israel will not accept a ceasefire in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip before kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is released, Israeli security cabinet decided unanimously Wednesday after discussing the issue for more than four hours.

"It would be inconceivable" for Israel to accept an Egyptian-proposed ceasefire calling for reopening Gaza border crossings to more-than-limited humanitarian aid without Shalit's release, local daily Ha'aretz quoted Israeli Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit as saying. Full story

GAZA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement on Wednesday said it has presented a detailed version for ceasefire with Israel to Egypt which tries to broker the lull's deal.

"We handed out our version for a lull that meets the Palestinian people's ambitions of lifting the siege, stopping the aggression and opening the crossings," said Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for Hamas. Full story